A heated debate has emerged over whether the San Francisco 49ers should pay Brock Purdy, and one fan suggested they trade up in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Shedeur Sanders. The idea has been heavily criticized, with one analyst emphatically calling it “madness.”
Could the 49ers Trade Up for Shedeur Sanders?
One of the key arguments against trading up for Sanders is the presence of established quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy, who led San Francisco to the Super Bowl in 2024 and was an MVP finalist, has faced ongoing skepticism despite his success.
Some Niners fans still question his abilities and have floated the idea of bringing in a new quarterback, while analysts like Rich Eisen are vehemently against it.
Eisen recently addressed the trade idea on his show, which was floated by one of his viewers who called into the program; they suggested moving Purdy to avoid having to pay him, and instead using the picks to take Sanders.
Eisen, though, argued that moving up in the draft to take an unproven rookie like Sanders would be an unnecessary gamble.
“You just don’t want to go into the rookie quarterback mosh pit and hope they turn out like Brock Purdy when you already have Brock Purdy,” he said.
One of the major concerns with taking a player like Sanders is that he would be starting from scratch in the NFL. While he has shown talent at Colorado under the coaching of his father, Deion Sanders, transitioning to the professional level is a different challenge. The idea of paying a large price in draft capital to secure an untested quarterback seems like an unnecessary risk when San Francisco already has a franchise quarterback.
While Purdy struggled at times last season, his level of play throughout his career has been nothing short of excellent. Injuries to key players like Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk affected the team’s performance, making it unfair to place all the blame on Purdy for San Francisco’s struggles.
Those injuries, paired with Christian McCaffrey’s season-long injury issues and Deebo Samuel Sr.’s struggles, resulted in a disappointing year for the usual Super Bowl contenders.
Quarterbacks Don’t Win Alone — It’s a Team Game
The notion that an elite quarterback should be able to transcend team weaknesses has been debated for years. However, football remains a team sport. Even with star quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, team support is crucial. Purdy’s critics overlook the impact of injuries and roster changes that affected the 49ers’ offense.
Ultimately, the argument against trading up for Sanders comes down to practicality. Teams that already have a capable quarterback should focus on strengthening other areas rather than gambling on an unproven rookie. As Eisen put it, “Let’s not pay the guy who took us to the Super Bowl, but trade up for a rookie? That’s insane.”